So much for stability.

After being authorized to continue its reign over St. Louis Public Schools for three more years, the appointed Special Administrative Board announced yesterday that superintendent Diana Bourisaw had turned in her resignation two weeks ago. They then voted to appoint Dr. John A. Wright as the new interim superintendent to serve while they search for the district’s seventh leader in just 5 years.

This isn’t the kind of “stability” the public was expecting when the state took over the city schools, not that the public was asked their opinion or anything.

Recent Superintendents

John Wright (May 2008)
Diana Bourisaw (July 2006-May 2008)
Creg Williams (April 2005-July 2006)
Pamela Randall Hughes (Dec 2004-April 2005)
Floyd Crues (July 2004-Dec 2004)
William Roberti (July 2003-June 2004)
Cleveland Hammonds (1996-2003)
David J. Mahan (1990-1996)

St. Louis Public Schools’ statement on the appointment of Dr. Wright:

Tonight, the Special Administrative Board of St. Louis Public Schools engaged John A. Wright, Ph. D., to serve as interim superintendent until a permanent superintendent is hired this fall. Dr. Wright has worked as an educator for nearly 35 years. Most recently, Dr. Wright served as interim superintendent in the Normandy School District in St. Louis County.

According to Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of the Special Administrative Board (SAB), Wright is being brought on to oversee day-to-day-operations over the summer and help facilitate the transition between Dr. Diana Bourisaw, the outgoing superintendent, and the hiring of a permanent superintendent.

Sullivan said, “Dr. Wright’s interim appointment will be effective July 1, 2008 to allow some overlap before Dr. Bourisaw leaves at the end of July. At that time, Dr. Wright will then step in and guide the district through the start of the next school year. He will oversee all pending actions, ‘back-to-school’ efforts, and all other projects designed to ensure the smooth and successful start to school year 2008.”

Dr. Bourisaw tendered her resignation in a letter to the SAB on May 15, 2008. Sullivan explained that this latest move was necessary to ensure that the district maintain control of the timing of the next transitions.

“We believe it is in our students’ best interest and in the best interest of the district that we keep more control over the timing as best we can,” Sullivan said. “Contracting with a new interim at this time ensures that there will be no interruption in that office during the very critical back-to-school planning efforts.”

Wright holds a bachelor of science in elementary education from Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, Missouri. He earned a master’s in school administration and a doctorate from St. Louis University. Dr. Wright also holds a number of specialized certifications on all grade levels and has served in an advisory capacity to the Governor’s Advisory Board under Kit Bond as well as to schools of all formats including private and parochial. He has served as an elected member of the board of education for University City. He retired in 2004 but returned to education last year as an interim at Normandy. Now he will help see the St. Louis Public Schools through this latest transition period.

Sullivan said, “Dr. Bourisaw stepped in at a very critical time and she has done a great job of implementing education initiatives and moving those programs forward over the past two years. The superintendent search is presently in the hands of an outside search firm and a broad-based community committee headed by SAB member Melanie Adams.”

The Special Administrative Board of St. Louis Public Schools has selected a firm to head the search for district superintendent. At its regular board meeting Thursday night, the SAB approved the hiring of ProAct Search Inc., a Milwaukee-based company.

Back in February, the Special Administrative Board announced that it would conduct a search for a new superintendent of schools. The current superintendent, Diana Bourisaw, said she would not re-apply for her position, but will continue in her job during the search process.

State Senator Maida Coleman was not happy when she heard that St. Louis Public Schools was about to start looking for its seventh superintendent in five years.

“I believe the [Special Administrative Board] just put the final nail in the coffin of the St. Louis Public School district,” said the St. Louis Democrat. She also hinted that this new instability may be intentional.

“It may be by design in an effort to continue the attack on the public school system in St. Louis in favor of marginally efficient and questionable outcomes of charter schools,” said Coleman.

The district’s governor-appointed CEO, Rick Sullivan, said the move was not about the record of Superintendent Diana Bourisaw, who was quickly appointed in July 2006 following the sudden firing of Superintendent Creg Williams, but rather about getting in place a superintendent that can meet the long-term needs of the district.

“I don’t know if they have a favored candidate waiting in the wings to take over our city’s school system,” said Coleman, “but this decision flies in the face of assurances we had received recently that Superintendent Bourisaw would continue to serve as the leader of our school district.”

Coleman defended Bourisaw as having proven herself to be an effective leader “who cares about our students.”

“I have little confidence that the governor’s handpicked henchman will do the right thing for our students when he chooses a new superintendent,” said the senator.

Coleman also noted the timing of Bourisaw’s firing, less than a week after the Senate confirmed Sullivan’s appointment to the SAB.

“The assurances of CEO Rick Sullivan meant nothing as he completely misled his Senate sponsor, Joan Bray of St. Louis,” Coleman said.

In response to SAB’s action, Coleman has filed legislation to dissolve the Board and return local control of the St. Louis Public Schools. Senate Bill 1129 simply repeals the statute which created the transitional school district.